My First Video Podcast

Here is my first video podcast on how video podcasting can be used for instructional/training purposes. If you want to view the video in a separate video player click the silver play button.

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My First Audio Podcast

Click the play button to listen to my first audio podcast on how podcasting can be used for instructional/training purposes.

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Post #3: Audio/Voice Recording Programs

Audacity is the first program that I found with audio and voice recording capabilities. Audacity is open source (free) software, which means that users' have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software (Free Software Foundation). It is also supported by Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems and supports the following file formats:

• Imports and exports WAV, AIFF, AU, and Ogg Vorbis files.
• Imports MPEG audio (including MP2 and MP3 files) with libmad.
• Exports MP3s with the optional LAME encoder library.
• Creates WAV or AIFF files suitable for burning to CD.
• Imports and exporst all file formats supported by libsndfile.
• Opens raw (headerless) audio files using the “Import Raw” command.

Audacity does not currently support WMA (Window Media Audio), AAC (Advanced Audio Recording), or most other proprietary or restricted file formats, but does allow the addition of plug-ins which allow users to add effects. It supports 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit rates and recording through a microphone or mixer, or digitizing recordings from cassette tapes, vinyl records, or minidiscs.
Audacity was started by Dominic Mazzoni and Roger Dannenberg in the fall of 1999 at Carnegie Mellon University. It was released as open-source software at SourceForge.net in May of 2000.

WavePad is another sound recording program produced by NCH software. WavePad is compatible with Windows or Mac OS X operating systems and primarily supports WAV and MP3 file formats, but also supports other file formats including vox, gsm, real audio, au, aif, flac, ogg and more. Unlike Audacity, WavePad is not open source software, although it is free to download, the more comprehensive edition is not free and does not allow users the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software, or at least not as much freedom. I must admit though that I like the WavePad interface more than that of Audacity and I found it much easier to navigate, but so far as its comparative sound recording and editing capabilities I will have to become more educated and experienced before I could make such a judgment.

Post #2: Reading Response

The Technology of Training article recognized and explained four main ingredients to training, which I also find essential to efficient and effective training. These ingredients formulate the questions that must be asked when performing training: what information is to be presented at the training, what performance outcomes are expected, what instructional method(s) will be used or what instructional method will be most effective and efficient, and then what instructional media or 'delivery devices' will be used? It is the responsibility of the manager, teacher, politician, or presenter in general to own ones' expectations and then prepare accordingly.

I am not at all surprised that approximately $60 billion dollars was spent by organizations for training in 1998 and I am even less surprised that much of that training did not fulfill its intended purpose. I love the example of the two myths that are commonly held concerning training, one that if there are 10-15 people in a room with an instructor that something productive is going on and two that the trainer need only have a knowledge of the material to be taught. I have had several experiences with instructors who unmistakably knew the technical information that they were "teaching", but could not present that information in a way that would promote and achieve understanding and implementation by those who were being "trained". I strongly believe that knowing information and teaching information are two separate, but equally important skills/attributes that must be adapted in order to produce the desired learning results.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and many of us return missionaries we can all relate to the importance of needs assessment as describe in The Technology of Training article. As missionaries, when someone is investigating the church we must find out their needs and the obstacles that may exist unbeknown to us (see Preach My Gospel, Chapter 10). I like the comparison of an iceberg to needs assessment, at the surface of the water only the tip of the iceberg can be seen and it is only when we look deep beneath the ocean water that we begin to recognize the true size of the iceberg. Proper needs assessment will pinpoint "what training is needed [and] by whom". I feel strongly that this is the most important step of instructional systems design and sets the foundation for successful training and implementation.

The Learning 2.0 for Associations reading explains the transitioning learning environment in which I have directly contributed. It is quite clear that we are moving into a new era of learning and teaching, and I personally attribute much of that transitioning to the constant advancements in technology and 'thinking'. I use the word thinking quite broadly as it could be interpreted and used to explain the transition in many different ways; not only are our minds thinking up bigger and greater things, but attitudes about the teacher-student relationship, and even the parent-child relationship, are vastly changing as well. I see that the confidence and expectations once held on teacher's and parent's alike is weakening, not necessarily in a negative manner but differing. I must admit that in many ways I like the transition to learning 2.0, which recognizes the potential of everyone to be a student and a teacher. One thing I recognized is that I have a lot to learn about social media technologies!

Post #1: Meet Scott Bigler

As the post title indicates, my name is Scott Bigler and I am from Ojai, California, a small town just north of Los Angeles. My mother and father both grew up in California, and my wife Ashlyn and I will most likely settle in California after I finish my undergraduate studies here at Brigham Young University- Hawaii. As I write this my wife and I happily await the arrival of our first child (girl) at the beginning of next year. Family has always been and always will be a central part of my life; I have six brothers and no sisters, and I married a woman from a family of five girls.
After serving a mission in Guatemala (Central America) I returned to California and earned an Associates degree in General Liberal Arts and Sciences at Ventura College. Shortly thereafter I married Ashlyn and we immediately moved to Laie, Hawaii to attend BYUH. Now a year and a half later I will be graduating in December of this year and then I will return to California to work in accounting/business (hopefully within the health care industry). Eventually I will either enroll in a school of optometry or a masters of business administration program. Inevitably, any career that I pursue will require the use of computers and computer technology, so I am excited to learn all I can about computer programs that will help me excel in my future career.
I enjoy sports immensely, especially football, basketball, and soccer. I also enjoy racquetball, some tennis, and pretty much any other sport. Here in Hawaii I enjoy the beach, hikes, and whatever other activity my wife can think up.

My Time

This blog was created to post anything related to the Brigham Young University- Hawaii IDD 302 class.